NOVEL NEXT Chapter 370: How dare you treat me like this?
Chapter 370: How dare you treat me like this?
Jun Fengya and Jun Chengye, who knew a bit about the situation, were secretly astonished. It seemed like Ye Xuefeng was still one step ahead.
The others who were in the dark were confused. Was this lord not satisfied with the killings?
“We pay our respects to Your Majesty, we pay our respects to Saint Lord Ye.”
Everyone bowed respectfully, afraid to look or speak too much lest they become the next target.
Lin Fengmian wasn’t here to kill anyone; he was simply here to support Jun Yunshang.
So he glanced around, then closed his eyes to cultivate, maintaining the demeanor of a master.
Jun Yunshang calmly said, “Everyone, please stand up. This meeting has been called today because someone tried to usurp the throne last night.”
As soon as these words were spoken, the court erupted into an uproar. Many officials spoke out in anger.
“What rebellious traitors dared to commit such a heinous act?”
“Who on earth would be so brazen?”
…
“Zhao Ban, bring the people up here,” Jun Yunshang said calmly.
Soon, Zhao Ban, accompanied by the Golden Feather Guards, brought up Jun Aoshi and his two accomplices, bound and gagged.
Jun Aoshi and Xu Su remained silent, but the King of Liaodong continued to resist to the end.
Seeing the three of them, the court, which had just been quiet, was once again in an uproar, as lively as a marketplace.
“Isn’t that black-faced one the king of Anxi?”
“How did the Southern King get involved as well? This…”
“Wait, how is the King of Liaodong here?”
…
Zhao Ban shouted several times before the chaotic court finally fell silent.
Jun Yunshang said coldly, “Zhao Ban, read the charges against the three vassal kings.”
Zhao Ban replied, “The King of Anxi, Jun Aoshi, conspired with the Southern King, Xu Su, and the King of Liaodong, Jun Fuhai, to plot a rebellion.”
“The King of Liaodong not only entered the capital without permission, but also led his men to break into the Imperial Palace, defying Your Majesty and attempting to seize power…”
“…Fortunately, Your Majesty foresaw this and took preventative measures, capturing them all in one fell swoop and suppressing them in front of the palace. They are awaiting your judgment.”
After the charges were read, someone asked, “Your Majesty, is there some misunderstanding?”
“Your Majesty, the King of Liaodong and the King of the South are pillars of the nation, there must be some misunderstanding.”
“Yes, Your Majesty is wise, the three kings must have been misled into committing this treasonous act.”
…
“Silence!” Zhao Ban stopped the clamoring officials.
Jun Yunshang slowly scanned the court and noticed that most of those pleading for mercy were close associates of Jun Aoshi.
She coldly said, “The evidence is clear, what more misunderstanding could there be?”
Someone wanted to plead again, but Lin Fengmian, who had been quietly cultivating, slowly opened his eyes.
He glanced at the officials below, his eyes filled with killing intent, and everyone immediately fell silent.
Jun Yunshang threw another jade slip to Zhao Ban with a cold face and ordered, “Zhao Ban, read it.”
Zhao Ban said, “According to the confessions of the King of Anxi and others, and the verification of the Black Feather Guards, the following officials were involved in the rebellion. The evidence is conclusive, and they are to be detained pending trial.”
“Chao Zhiyong, Xu Hai…”
For every name he read, someone would go limp and collapse to the ground. Many others turned pale.
Without a word, Wei Ting ordered his Golden Feather Guards to take the officials away, leaving the rest of the court trembling in fear.
“Your Majesty, the humble official is innocent!”
“Your Majesty, this is a trap, a trap! The humble official is loyal and has no second thoughts.”
…
The officials who proclaimed their innocence were dragged away by the Golden Feather Guards and thrown into the Heavenly Prison to await trial.
In a short time, a quarter of the courtyard that had been filled with people was now empty.
Jun Yunshang looked at the bound Jun Aoshi and the others and said quietly, “Three uncles, do you plead guilty?”
Wei Ting stepped forward and removed the gags and restraints from the three of them. The King of Liaodong raised his head and said, “Girl, you can kill me or chop me up, it’s all up to you!”
On the other hand, Xu Su seemed to have lost his arrogance. He knelt down with a thud, tears streaming down his face and said, “Your Majesty, I was foolish!”
“I was blinded by these two. When I saw the Imperial Seal of the Mandate of Heaven in their hands, I mistakenly thought that Your Majesty had given the order to enter the palace. I made a grave mistake.”
He bowed deeply, his words filled with remorse, “I did not intentionally offend Your Majesty. I beg Your Majesty to consider the loyalty of the Xu family for generations and show mercy.”
The King of Liaodong looked at him with disdain and shouted, “Xu Su, you’re a king, at least have some shame!”
Xu Su ignored him and continued to kowtow, muttering, “Your Majesty, show mercy, Your Majesty, show mercy!”
Jun Yunshang ignored the two of them and looked deeply at Jun Aoshi, waiting for his response.
Although covered in soot, Jun Aoshi remained calm and said, “The victor takes all, I accept defeat. I await your verdict.”
“So you all plead guilty?”
Jun Yunshang turned to Zhao Ban and asked, “Zhao Ban, according to the Junyan Law, what is the punishment for a vassal king who attempts to usurp the throne?”
Zhao Ban respectfully replied, “Your Majesty, according to the law, they should be stripped of their titles, their fiefdoms revoked, their cultivation bases abolished, and they should be imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison to be used as human elixirs!”
“Cultivators of the Nascent Soul Realm and above from their clan will be used as human elixirs, while men below the Nascent Soul Realm will be sent to the border as slaves, and women will be sent to the Imperial Prostitution Bureau as a warning to others!”
The crime committed by Jun Aoshi and the others was treason, and this punishment was not unjust.
Jun Yunshang clenched her small hand, her nails digging deep into her flesh without her noticing.
Her voice trembled, but her words were clear, “Then punish them according to the law!”
Zhao Ban nodded, “Yes, Your Majesty!”
The King of Liaodong looked incredulous and glared, “You wretch, I am your royal uncle, how dare you treat me like this?”
Zhao Ban said sternly, “Brazen traitor, how dare you speak to Your Majesty like that! Take him away!”
The King of Liaodong spat, “Bah, what Your Majesty, a woman who uses her beauty to gain power, you have disgraced our ancestors!”
Jun Yunshang only looked at him with indifference, her eyes filled with pity, which made him even more enraged like a lion in a rage.
“Do you think you can sit on the throne for long? You will eventually be dragged down and become…”
Wei Ting pressed a palm against his back, restraining him, leaving him speechless and only able to glare.
The Southern King’s face changed drastically. He looked at Lin Fengmian and the others and kowtowed even harder, “Your Majesty, show mercy! Young Master Ye, show mercy!”
“I am willing to swear a blood oath to serve Your Majesty for the rest of my life. If I break this oath, may heaven and earth destroy me!”
Jun Yunshang pursed her lips, glanced at Lin Fengmian and sighed, “It’s too late to regret now. I gave you a chance.”
The Golden Feather Guards stepped forward and dragged Xu Su away. He hastily said, “Your Majesty, my children are innocent, please spare their lives.”
Jun Aoshi didn’t make a scene like the others. Instead, he smiled and threw out a storage ring.
“Yunshang, you truly are his daughter, you have learned quickly. I return the Seal of the Mandate of Heaven to you!”
The storage ring containing the Seal of the Mandate of Heaven rolled across the floor, clinking and clattering.
It finally stopped at the stairs, just like him, unstoppable and relentless.